Submitted by john johnston, Jan 6, 2008 17:23

A very interesting article on the playing of the ba on new years day. A few of my friends ventured up from the scottish borders to see this but unfortunately I couldn't make it this time. Our interest in the game stems from the annual candlemass jethart (Jedburgh) ba game in which we participate and is also played with uppies and doonies. There are a few similar games played in the UK at various times of the year and are mainly on shrovetide tuesday. The Jethart ba along with denholm and hobkirk are played around the same time but will vary each year depending on when the new moon is following candlemas day. I think there are still about seventeen games still surviving and I hope they continue to do so for many centuries to come. Perhaps next year I will manage to make it to orkney for I think it is probably the biggest game still surviving although the one at Ashbourne in derbyshire england is quite big as well.Keep up the good work

regards

JJ

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